Letting Agent Fees

PhilI_3

This post is being written on behalf of my son's ex-partner. They have a 2 year old daughter. She lives with family at the moment, but wants to move out and the local authority waiting list is currently about 4 years.
The question I have is about letting fees. She's been told that she would have to pay the letting fee and a fee to renew the contract every six months if she goes through an agent. I'm concerned about her renting directly from a landlord as she is quite vulnerable but she is unemployed and unlikely to be working for some time so money is always going to be an issue.
I've read (and printed) the tenants guide to renting and looked through quite a few posts but can't find any information about fees.

nervousmother

The agent I work for charges £25 renewal fee, However after the initial 6 months contract she does not have to renew it. She can go onto what is known as a rolling contract.
This would allow her to vacate the property only giving one months notice, however it would allow the landlord to ask her to leave giving her two months notice.

PhilI_3

Thanks for that nervousmother. I'll get her to check with the Ea before she signs anything.

Gingernutmeg

Fees vary hugely. In the last place we rented, the renewal fee was £150 per person, every six months as the agency did not allow longer contracts - we chose not to go onto a periodic tenancy as we like the security of a fixed term. In our current property, we initially paid £150 each for referencing and credit checks, and there was also a £200 'holding' deposit.

nervousmother

Some Agencys obviously rip people off, Our place is £100 ref fee, £25 contract renewal fee. When they first sign up they pay £300 holding deposit but the ref fee comes out of that and the rest is carried over to the 'deposit', although the whole £300 is lost if tenant pulls out. Thought our place was standard

I agee a 6 month contract would give more security but if OP is on the council waiting list even if the list is that long it would probably be best to go onto a periodic, last thing they would want is to be offered a council place then have to pay 5 months rent to agency on top of council rent.